Quick take: The Good Shepherd

Last year's Matt Damon spy movie, The Good Shepherd, has one big thing in common with the one currently in theaters, The Bourne Ultimatum. They're both about the personal costs of doing the dirty work for one's country. But where Bourne tallies up that cost in graphic detail, Shepherd accounts for it one word of dialog at a time. Make no mistake, this is a well-acted and mostly well-crafted film. It's also smart, parsing the ideals and grim necessities of mid-20th century American foreign affairs without the naivete of typical Hollywood movies. Shepherd is worth two hours and 48 minutes of your time if the Bourne movies and Breach left you wanting even more. But as you hit Play, keep in mind that it's not a thriller, it's an informer.